As implied by the title, this 2008 anthology by Berkley contains stories centered on shapeshifters, with each author giving these paranormal beings their own unique spin. I grabbed this book while glomming the Warriors of Poseidon series and, I have to say, I have had GREAT luck with anthologies lately. Way better than the usual for me, for sure: four stories, three read, three enjoyed.

The (much hated) back cover blurb:

Something happens when the beast within is teased and tempted. Something dangerous. Something inescapable. Something so irresistible no woman would want to run from it.

The fifth installment in Ms Day’s Warriors of Poseidon series, Atlantis Unleashed is the third full length novel in the series. It follows the fate of one of Atlantis’ Seven chosen Warriors, Lord Justice, after the climactic events narrated near the end of the previous book, Atlantis Awakening.

Because of the complexity of this universe, I would definitely recommend reading all the stories in order-Atlantis Rising, “Wild Hearts in Atlantis” (Wild Thing anthology), Atlantis Awakening, “Shifter’s Lady” (Shifter anthology) and, finally, Atlantis Unleashed-as many secondary threads are woven through them, building the overarching plotline. For this reason, at least a few spoilers for previous stories are unavoidable in this review, so… reader beware.

As you see, I’m still on a Warriors of Poseidon kick-these books make for compelling reads, let me tell you. Atlantis Awakening is the third title in the series. The warriors of Poseidon are an elite group of Atlanteans who accept their god’s calling to protect humanity, and their stories are entwined with humanity’s fight against evil.

This novel follows Ven (aka Lord Vengeance, younger brother and heir to Conlan, High Prince of Atlantis) and his relationship with Erin Connors, witch and gem singer, while continuing the overarching storyline.

As I mentioned in my review of Atlantis Rising, a number of mythologies are amalgamated to create the framework of this universe, although the predominant mythos is the Greek pantheon.

I have mentioned before that I rarely read anthologies cover to cover-which begs the question of why I buy them in the first place. The answer is that I want one-perhaps two-of the stories within, and that I want that one story bad enough to pay for content I know I am likely never to read.

You can imagine how happy I am on those occasions when two or more of the stories in the same anthology resonate with me. These are two such stories, originally published in 2007 in the Wild Thing anthology by Berkley. (more…)

The first title in the series, Atlantis Rising introduces a rather complex universe, in which a number of seemingly disparate and disconnected mythologies turn out not just to be based on fact but also linked. There are Greek gods and their descendants (or perhaps, their chosen race?), vampires, shape shifters and humans and, inevitably, power grabbing and evil.